Edwjextrand14

EDWJextra

Session 1: Bringing down the giant of fear ICEBREAKER Looking up definitions beforehand, see how many of the following fears the group can define: Agoraphobia, Homilophobia, Pentheraphobia, Xenophobia, Ephebiphobia, Dentophobia, Consecotaleophobia.

KEY THOUGHT Like the Israelites, we can be faced by Goliath-like giants that block our path to all that God has in store for us. But when we trust God, He gives us the courage and power to overcome every one.

KEY VERSE ‘I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel’ 1 Samuel 17:45 DISCUSSION STARTERS 1. How can our giants intimidate us?

2. How can the Holy Spirit help us?

3. Are some of our fears imaginary?

4. What false remedies do some people use to overcome fear?

Bringing down giants NOV/DEC 2014

Every Day with Jesus group resource

NOV 1 – NOV 9

7. Which fears are healthy and which are unhealthy?

8. In Psalm 5:7 NKJV uses the word ‘fear’ but the NIV translation uses ‘reverence’.

Which is better?

9. Discuss the two facts that kept Jesus free from fear.

THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS ‘Pilate said, “Don’t you realise I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above”’ John 19:10–11 PRAYER POINTERS • Pray that the Holy Spirit will instruct and help you and the group as we study this issue together.

• Pray for people to overcome their fears and experience a new boldness in God.

Session 2: B ringing down the giant of jealousy ICEBREAKERS How have you been tempted by jealous thoughts regarding the success of another person?

To what extent would you say that Western consumerism and the debt crisis are based on jealousy?

KEY THOUGHT The giant of jealousy is a killer. We must make up our minds in God’s name to halt it. If we don’t, it will eventually destroy us.

NOV 10 – NOV 16 THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS ‘I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will even do greater things’ John 14:12 PRAYER POINTERS • Confess and repent of any jealousy.

• Pray God’s blessing for those who might be tempted by jealousy.

KEY VERSE ‘Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?’ Proverbs 27:4 DISCUSSION STARTERS 1. What is the difference between good and bad jealousy?

2. Discuss the quote from Charles Swindoll that appears on 11 November.

3. Why may we be jealous of other Christians and churches?

4. Discuss the fable that appears on 13 November.

5. How has prayer helped you overcome fear?

5. How does self-centredness produce jealousy?

6. How does our understanding of God’s omnipresence affect our fears?

6. Why should we not ‘keep up with the Joneses’?

7. Discuss Selwyn’s comment: ‘It is the intense longing for admiration that leads many people into difficulties’, which appears on 16 November. www.cwr.org.uk/edwjextra

EDWJextra

Session 3: Bringing down the giant of lust and unhealthy desire ICEBREAKER How does modern society fan the flames of lust?

KEY THOUGHT Desires are God-given aspects of the personality, but they should be our servants and not our masters or else we will be consumed and dominated by them.

KEY VERSES ‘a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him’ 2 Peter 2:19 ‘sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace’ Romans 6:14

Bringing down giants NOV/DEC 2014

Every Day with Jesus group resource

NOV 17 – NOV 24

7. Discuss G.K. Chesterton’s quote (appearing on 23 November).

8. Discuss the idea that sexual desire is just one aspect of our creative nature.

Session 4: Bringing down the giant of shame ICEBREAKER How should a husband apologise and make amends with his wife for the shame of forgetting their wedding anniversary?

THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS ‘But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.’ Matthew 5:28

KEY THOUGHT Guilt and shame can cripple our personalities and hinder our spiritual effectiveness as past memories trap us in the tangle of regret. But Jesus brings total forgiveness and sets us free!

PRAYER POINTERS • Pray for single people in the church to live pure lives and resist temptation.

• Pray for wise and sensitive teaching and for godly outlets for your creative passions.

KEY VERSE ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’ 1 John 1:9

NOV 25 – NOV 30 PRAYER POINTERS • Ask God to show you any unconfessed sin and where you may need to make restitution.

• Thank God that His forgiveness is total and that He chooses not to remember your sins.

DISCUSSION STARTERS 1. Consider how desire can be seen as a Godgiven force of the personality, but also why it needs to be properly controlled.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

2. How can sin bind, blind and grind us?

3. Define what it means to repent.

3. How can we bring sex into the open in our thinking?

4. What is the difference between remorse and repentance?

4. Discuss the comment made by the academic mentioned on 20 November: ‘My feelings overwhelm my intelligence’.

5. Why may it be difficult to forgive ourselves?

5. How can we celebrate sex in freedom rather than being dominated and shamed bit?

THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS ‘“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”’

John 8:11

6. Why is lust more a problem of the mind than the body?

1. How can memories of the past affect us?

2. How can we ‘forget what is behind’ as Paul did?

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Session 5: Bringing down the giant of despair ICEBREAKER What are your plans for Christmas?

KEY THOUGHT The truth of the cross gives us hope that whatever difficult circumstances we face, God is working all things for good. He is also with us to encourage and strengthen us until the day we finally see Him face-to-face.

KEY VERSE ‘Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God’ Psalm 43:5

Bringing down giants NOV/DEC 2014

Every Day with Jesus group resource

DEC 1 – DEC 7

6. How would you explain your reason for hope if someone asked?

7. How does the message of the cross help us in desperate circumstances?

THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS ‘“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death … Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”’ Mark 14:34,36 PRAYER POINTERS • Thank God that He is with you at all times to fill you with faith, hope and love.

• Pray for those who are going through difficult circumstances.

Session 6: Bringing down the giant of pride ICEBREAKERS As we approach Christmas, watch this funny video of the Silent Monks: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=pRhjWdr-LAA What do you consider your best attribute or achievement?

KEY THOUGHT Pride is one of the most dangerous giants because it displaces God and puts self in the centre of our universe.

7. What is the difference between humility and low self-esteem?

THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS ‘Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.’ John 13:14 PRAYER POINTERS • Confess any areas of pride.

• Pray for a gentle and humble spirit that regards others as more important than yourself.

KEY VERSE ‘When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.’ Proverbs 11:2

DISCUSSION STARTERS

DISCUSSION STARTERS

1. Discuss how God brought Elijah back from despair.

1. Discuss the quote by William Law on 8 December.

2. Have you experienced a spiritual low after a spiritual high?

2. Discuss the words of Dr A.C. Craig., quoted on 9 December.

3. What is the difference between devastation and despair?

3. What causes us to want to be the centre of attention?

4. How is Christian hope different to a person hosting a garden party who hopes it will not rain?

4. Why is spiritual maturity both desirable and dangerous?

5. What is the difference between worldly optimism and Christian hope?

DEC 8 – DEC 14

5. How can Christ’s life provide us with an antidote to pride?

6. What is the difference between good pride and bad pride? www.cwr.org.uk/edwjextra

EDWJextra Session 7: Bringing down the giant of revenge ICEBREAKER Watch the following two stories: Gordon Wilson: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/ p010gppk Jimmy Mizen’s parents: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=cRQo72Oqa1g KEY THOUGHT The passion for revenge breeds bitterness and can limit the power of the Holy Spirit flowing in our lives.

KEY VERSE ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge’ Leviticus 19:18 DISCUSSION STARTERS 1. How have you dealt with the desire to ‘get even’?

2. Discuss Selwyn’s statement found on 16 December: ‘To cultivate the virus of resentment is as harmful as cultivating a virus in the body.’

Bringing down giants NOV/DEC 2014

Every Day with Jesus group resource

DEC 15 – DEC 21 THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS ‘When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate’ 1 Peter 2:23 PRAYER POINTERS • Pray for anyone who has hurt or offended you.

• Pray that God will strengthen you to forgive, pray and serve those who treat you badly.

Session 8: Bringing down the giant of self-pity ICEBREAKERS What was your highlight over Christmas?

What has most impacted you in this issue and how will you change as a result?

Watch the video clip of a Christmas flash mob: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE KEY THOUGHT Self-pity causes us to focus on ourselves rather than face and overcome the issues of life with God’s strength.

KEY VERSES ‘I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’ 1 Kings 19:14 ‘I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.’ Philippians 4:13 DISCUSSION STARTERS 1. What misfortunes could give rise to self-pity and why is some misfortune inevitable?

4. Discuss the story of the farmer told on 18 December.

2. Why might Christmas seem to have a negative effect on some people and how can we respond to them?

5. What do you understand by the concept of Christ occupying territory in your heart?

3. Discuss Selwyn’s statement: ‘no one understands you better than Jesus’.

6. Why is forgiveness always the right response?

4. Discuss the words of Dr Robert C. Barnes mentioned on 26 December.

3. How may bitterness affect us?

7. Discuss the three basic elements of forgiveness described on 21 December.

DEC 22 – DEC 31 5. How can we be immune to the effects of self-pity?

6. How can adversity teach us to be Godreliant and not self-reliant?

7. Discuss what Dr G. Campbell Morgan said of ‘a certain young preacher’ on 29 December.

8. Why may reformed drug addicts be the best counsellors for other addicts?

9. Go over the principles of bringing down the giants that try to block your spiritual progress, summarised on 31 January.

THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS Dying on the cross, Jesus ‘said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”’ John 19:26–27 PRAYER POINTERS • Pray for God to help you overcome the giant of self-pity and be more focused on God’s next step for you.

• Pray for strength and courage to defeat any giants that block your spiritual progress.

• Give thanks to God for the past year and pray for an outpouring of His Spirit in the New Year.

www.cwr.org.uk/edwjextra